What is Carbon composite?
Composite is a simple term meaning a combination of more than one material. Usually this takes the form of two or more materials with differing, yet complimentary, properties. Carbon composite is carbon fibres – to take tensile loads, set into a polymer resin matrix – to take the compressive loads. The best performing structural materials, both natural and man-made, are usually composites. Some common examples are; Tarmac – hard stones in a flexible bitumen matrix. Timber - hard cellulose fibres in a soft lignum matrix. Reinforced concrete - high-tensile steel set into a compression bearing concrete matrix. Plant stems - tough cellulose ‘strings’ supported in a cellular compression bearing matrix. The structural performance of these composite materials cannot be doubted!

Where did the carbon-composite technology come from?
It is British invention! The majority of the ground-breaking scientific work on carbon fibres, and carbon composite applications, was done at Farnborough in the 1950’s

Are carbon composites better than the traditional, metal, alternatives?
Yes, in the vast majority of small-scale, high-performance structural applications. Carbon composites have unrivalled mechanical properties and, in most load-bearing applications (where weight is an issue), will easily outperform any metal alternative. This is why jet fighters and Formula 1 cars (where performance is the only consideration) are made mostly of carbon composite materials.

Does carbon composite have other advantages over metals?
Yes. The advantages are manifold. Metals are isotropic. This means that, for example, a sheet of aluminium has identical tensile characteristics in any direction. Carbon composites can be engineered to be anisotropic. This means that, for example, a tube can, due solely to the carbon filament orientation, be engineered to be resistant laterally, but compliant vertically. This is great for bicycles, but is impossible to achieve with metals. Carbon composites also allow far greater freedom of form, so that shapes can be optimised for mechanical or aerodynamic reasons. Shape in metal structures is constrained by the material and its joining protocol. Carbon composites can be formed into complex, one-piece structures – allowing stresses to flow freely throughout. Metal frames must have joints which interrupt and concentrate forces, leading to weaknesses and the need to overbuild. Carbon composites have fatigue-life and damping characteristics that are superior to those of the metal alternatives.